Demmin

Demmin (IPA: [dɛˈmiːn]) is a town in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany. It was the capital of the former Demmin Rural District.

Demmin-Ansicht-ueber-das-Trebeltal-26-07-2008-226.jpg
Coat of arms of Demmin
Location of Demmin within Mecklenburgische Seenplatte district
Demmin in MBS.svg
Coordinates: 53°54′18″N 13°02′38″E / 53.90500°N 13.04389°E / 53.90500; 13.04389Coordinates: 53°54′18″N 13°02′38″E / 53.90500°N 13.04389°E / 53.90500; 13.04389
CountryGermany
StateMecklenburg-Vorpommern
DistrictMecklenburgische Seenplatte
Subdivisions11 districts
Government
 • MayorThomas Witkowski (CDU)
Area
 • Total80.653 km2 (31.140 sq mi)
Elevation
8 m (26 ft)
Population
 (2006-12-31)
 • Total12,633
 • Density156.634/km2 (405.680/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal codes
17109
Vehicle registrationDM
Websitewww.demmin.de

World War II

German troops destroyed the bridges over the Peene while retreating from Demmin during World War II. This way, the advance of the Soviet Red Army was slowed down when they arrived in Demmin on April 30, 1945. During that night and the following morning, Demmin was handed over to the Red Army largely without fighting, similar to other cities like Greifswald.

Although there were only a few pockets of resistance, nearly 900 people committed mass suicides in fear of the Red Army. Coroner lists show that most drowned in the nearby River Tollense and River Peene, where others poisoned themselves.[1] This was fuelled by atrocities and rapes committed by Red Army soldiers until the city commander had the access to the rivers blocked on May 3.

Famous residents

Literature

  • Norbert Buske, Das Kriegsende in Demmin 1945 (German) - The End of the War in Demmin 1945

Demmin Media

References

  1. MDR Fakt from September 22, 2003 (mostly German, English in parts)

Other websites

  Media related to Demmin at Wikimedia Commons
  Works related to EB1911:Demmin at Wikisource